Water Pollution 2016

13th International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Water Pollution

27 June - 29 June 2016

San Servolo, Venice, Italy

Introduction

Water Pollution 2016 is the 13th International Conference in the series of Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Water Pollution. The conference, which has always been very successful, provides a forum for discussion amongst scientists, managers and academics from different areas of water contamination. The wealth of information exchanged in this international meeting continues to be of great benefit to all involved with water pollution problems.

The environmental problems caused by the increase of pollutant loads discharged into natural water bodies requires the formation of a framework for regulation and control. This framework needs to be based on scientific results that relate pollutant discharge with changes in water quality. The results of these studies allow industry to apply more efficient methods of controlling and treating waste loads, and water authorities to enforce appropriate regulations regarding this matter.

Environmental problems are essentially interdisciplinary. Engineers and scientists working in this field must be familiar with a wide range of issues including the physical processes of mixing and dilution, chemical and biological processes, mathematical modelling, data acquisition and measurement, to name but a few. In view of the scarcity of available data, it is important that experiences are shared on an international basis. Thus, a continuous exchange of information between scientists from different countries is essential. 

The Water Pollution Conference started in Southampton in 1991 and has been held in Milan, Italy (1993); Porto Carras, Greece (1995); Lake Bled, Slovenia (1997); Lemnos, Greece (1999); Rhodes, Greece (2001); Cadiz, Spain (2003); Bologna, Italy (2006); Alicante, Spain (2008); Bucharest, Romania (2010); The New Forest, UK, home of the Wessex Institute (2012) and the Algarve in 2014. All published papers since 1993 have been widelydistributed and archived in the eLibrary where they are permanently available to the scientific community (www.witpress.com/elibrary).

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Water Pollution 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Monitoring, modelling and forecasting
• Freshwater quality
• Marine water quality
• Groundwater and aquifer issues
• Water management
• Remediation
• Agricultural contamination
• Wastewater treatment and management
• Offshore pollution and oil spills
• Mining and water quality
• Soil erosion and water pollution
• Emerging technologies
• Health risk studies
• Micropollution and nanoparticles
• Microbiological aspects
• Risk assessments
• Socio-economic-political consequences
• Education and training
• Population and climate change
• Future trends in water pollution
• Emerging approaches for water waste management

Find out more on the conference webpage.

Urban Water 2016

3rd International Conference on Design, Construction, Maintenance, Monitoring and Control of Urban Water Systems

27 - 29 June 2016

San Servolo, Venice, Italy

Introduction

Urban Water 2016 is the 3rd International Conference on the Design, Construction, Maintenance, Monitoring and Control of Urban Water Systems. The meeting is reconvened following the success of the first two conferences, that took place in the New Forest, home of the Wessex Institute in 2012, and in the Algarve, Portugal, 2014. 

As our cities continue to expand, their urban infrastructures need to be re-evaluated and adapted to new requirements related to the increase in population and the growing areas under urbanization. This conference considers these problems and deals with two main topics: water supply systems and urban drainage. Topics such as contamination and pollution discharges in urban water bodies, as well as the monitoring of water recycling systems are currently receiving a great deal of attention from researchers and professional engineers working in the water industry. Water distribution networks often suffer substantial losses which represent wastage of energy and treatment. Effective, efficient and energy saving management is necessary in order to optimize their performance.

Sewer systems are under constant pressure due to growing urbanization and climate change, and the environmental impact caused by urban drainage overflows is related to both water quantity and water quality. Architects and town planners are also aware of the importance of the interaction between urban water cycles and city planning and landscaping. Management of all these aspects requires the development of specialised computer tools that can respond to the increased complexity of urban water systems. The conference will also discuss legal and regulatory aspects, in addition to more technical problems.

Papers presented at this conferences, as all other meetings run by the Wessex Institute of Technology, are archived in the Institute eLibrary (www.witpress.com/elibrary), and permanently available to the international community.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Urban Water 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Water supply networks
• Leakage and losses
• Modelling and experimentation
• Safety and security of water systems
• Maintenance and repairs
• Water quality
• Water savings and reuse
• Surface water and groundwater sources
• Network design
• Waste water treatment and disposal
• Structural works and infrastructure
• Combined sewer networks
• Flood control
• Industrial waste water issues
• Urban drainage systems for water sensitive cities
• Reservoirs and store tanks
• Domestic installations
• Storm water control
• Anthropological contamination
• Watershed management
• Urban strategies

Find out more on the conference webpage. 

Urban Transport 2016

22nd International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment

21 - 23 June 2016

Crete, Greece

Introduction

The International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment has been successfully held annually for more than 20 years. It first started in Southampton in 1995, continuing in Barcelona (1996); Acquasparta, Italy (1997); Lisbon (1998); Rhodes (1999); Cambridge, UK (2000); Lemnos, Greece (2001); Seville (2002); Crete (2003) Dresden(2004); The Algarve (2005); The New Forest, home of the Wessex Institute (2006); Coimbra (2007); Malta (2008); Bologna (2009); Cyprus (2010); Pisa (2011); A Coruña (2012); Kos (2013); The Algarve (2014) and Valencia (2015).

The conference attracts delegates from all over the world and is well-established as the premier event of its type. Transportation in urban areas, with its related environmental and social impacts, is a topic of significant concern for policymakers in both municipal and central government and for the urban citizens who need effective and efficient transport systems. Urban transport systems require considerable studies to devise and then safeguard their operational use, maintenance and safety. Transportation systems produce significant environmental impacts and can enhance or degrade the quality of life in urban centres. 

The research goal to which the conference contributes is to devise and implement transportation systems that contribute to a sustainable urban environment through minimising the negative environmental impacts whilst improving the socioeconomic and cultural development of the urban environment. The depth and breadth of topics covered by this conference allows for robust analysis of the complex interactions of urban transport and the environment and provides opportunities for establishing practical action strategies for resolving urban transportation problems. 

A distinctive element of the Urban Transport and the Environment series is the interaction between academic and practical perspectives where theories and ideas are debated and their practical applications rigorously tested. Clearly the issue of providing effective and efficient transport systems in the urban settings remains an acute challenge with financial, political and environmental constraints limiting the ability of transport system planners and operators to deliver the high quality outcomes expected by the public.

The papers presented at the series of conferences are widely disseminated throughout the world in digital and hard copy format. They are also stored in the Wessex Institute eLibrary (www.witpress.com/elibrary) where they are permanently available to the international community.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Urban Transport 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Environmental impact
• Environmentally friendly transport modes
• Transport strategies
• Public transport systems
• Transport modelling
• Urban transport simulation
• Transport safety and security
• Infrastructure
• Intermodel transport systems
• Port and airport cities
• Land use and transport integration
• Transport policy and regulations
• Experiences from emerging countries
• Non-motorized transport models
• Intelligent transport systems
• Electromobility
• Mobility and urban space
• Sustainability and resilience
• Emerging transport systems
• Energy efficiency

Find out more on the conference webpage. 

Air Pollution 2016

The 24th International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution

20 - 22 June 2016

Crete, Greece

Introduction 

The 24th International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution builds upon the prestigious outcomes of the 23 preceding meetings. The series started in Mexico (1993) followed by Barcelona (1994); Halkidiki (1995); Toulouse (1996); Bologna (1997); Genova (1998); San Francisco (1999); Cambridge (2000); Ancona (2001); Segovia (2002); Catania (2003); Rhodes (2004); Cordoba (2005); New Forest (2006); Algarve (2007); Skiathos (2008); Tallinn (2009); Kos (2010); Malta (2011); A Coruña (2012); Siena (2013); Split (2014) and Valencia (2015). 

The Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution series of conferences has attracted a global audience of academics and air pollution practitioners who through their papers and presentations have contributed to the evolving understanding of the science and policy contexts of air pollution. The conference continues to meet the demands of a discerning audience through the quality of the science and policy presented at the meetings. This series has discussed important air pollution issues at an international, national and local level and by virtue of its truly international composition has brought to the discussion a unique suite ofperspectives. The conference findings enjoy a wide and rapid dissemination amongst the air pollution science and policy communities.

The management of air pollution is one of the most challenging problems facing the international community. The conference addresses a wide range of issues and challenges, but a particular strength of the series has been the attention given to regulatory and, market solutions to air pollution management. The Air Pollution series of conferences has consistently acknowledged that science remains the key to identifying the nature and scale of air pollution impacts and reaffirmed that science is essential in the formulation of policy relevant information for regulatory decision making. The conference series also acknowledged, at a very early stage, that science alone will not improve a polluted atmosphere. The scientific knowledge derived from well designed studies needs to be allied with further technical and economic studies in order to ensure cost effective and efficient mitigation. In turn, the science, technology and economic outcomes are necessary but not sufficient.

The outcome of such research needs to be contextualised within well formulated communication strategies that help policy makers and citizens to understand and appreciate the risks and rewards arising from air pollution management. Consequently, the series has enjoyed a wide range of high quality presentations that develop the fundamental science of air pollution and an equally impressive range of presentations that places these new developments within the frame of mitigation and management of air pollution.

All the peer reviewed papers published in the series are available in the WIT eLibrary (www.witpress.com/elibrary) where they are easily accessible to the international community.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Air Pollution 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Air pollution modelling
• Air pollution mitigation and management
• Aerosols and particles
• Emission studies
• Health effects
• Indoor air pollution
• Air data quality
• Monitoring and measuring
• Case studies
• Air pollution control technologies
• Industrial air pollution
• Air pollution science
• Global and regional studies
• Climate change effects
• GIS & remote sensing applications
• Emerging pollutants
• Socio economic issues
• Public engagement
• Policy and legislation

Find out  more on the conference webpage. 

Environmental Impact 2016

3rd International Conference on Environmental and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development

8 - 10 June 2016

Valencia, Spain

Introduction

The 3rd International Conference on Environmental and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development follows the success of the two previous meetings held in the New Forest, UK, home of the Wessex Institute in 2012 and Ancona, Italy in 2014.

The meeting will provide an international forum to discuss the most serious problems affecting sustainable development. The Conference will consider the impact of economic constraints on the environment, taking into account the social aspects as well as the over-use of natural resources. Uncontrolled development can also result in damage to the environment in terms of the release of toxic substances and hazardous waste. The meeting will examine issues related to whether some forms of development are compatible with environmental protection, particularly in cases of possible serious contamination and toxicity.

The conference will address problems of great importance discussing more constructive and progressive approaches to ensure sustainability. A major motivation for the meeting is to learn from past failure, to avoid repeating similar mistakes, while attempting to prevent emerging threats to the environmental and ecological systems. 

Fundamental to these concepts are the analysis of the inherent risk and the development of appropriate strategies.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Environmental Impact 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Environmental policies and planning
• Environmental assessments
• Development issues
• Sustainable cities
• Economic impact
• Natural resources management
• Energy and the environment
• Food production systems and policies
• Ecosystems health
• Soil contamination
• Remediation
• Decommissioning of hazardous plants
• Brownfields rehabilitation
• Water resources management
• Air and water pollution
• Toxicity studies
• Pollution and public health
• Environmental health risk
• Community participation
• Legislation and regulations

Find out more on the conference webpage.

Waste Management 2016

8th International Conference on Waste Management and the Environment

7 - 9 June 2016

Valéncia, Spain

Introduction

The International Conference on Waste Management and the Environment is organised every two years by the Wessex Institute. This eighth conference follows the success of previous meetings held in Cadiz (2002); Rhodes (2004); Malta (2006); Granada (2008); Tallinn (2010); the New Forest, home of the Wessex Institute (2012) and Ancona (2014).

The conference provides a forum for the exchange of scientific information and work on the current situation of waste management amongst professionals, researchers, government departments and local authorities. Waste Management is one of the key problems of modern society due to the ever expanding volume and complexity of discarded domestic and industrial waste. Society is increasingly aware of the need to establish better practices and safer solutions for waste disposal. This requires further investigation into disposal methods and recycling as well as new technologies to monitor landfills, industrial mining wastes and chemical and nuclear repositories. This creates a need for more research on current disposal methods such as landfills, incineration, chemical and effluent treatment, as well as recycling, clean technologies, waste monitoring, public and corporate awareness and general education. Unfortunately many of the policies adopted in the past were aimed at short term solutions without due regard to the long term implications on health and the environment, leading in many cases to the need to take difficult and expensive remedial action. The desired direction of Waste Management is towards sustainable strategies.

The approach which has emerged as the most promising has been called 4Rs, where reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery are seen as the best actions. This largely decreases the volume of waste that needs final disposal. Recovery refers to the establishment of two new classifications, those of Secondary Raw Materials (SRM) and of Refuse Derived Fuel(RDF). They both relate to useful products obtained from waste and make a shift from the mere recycle or reuse – mostly seen as a way to reduce dumping – to the valuable employment of such matter within the production cycle. Another aspect of this revolution is happening subtly and gradually by people buying waste; particularly eWaste and some types of plastic, the so-called technical waste. This is happening due to the strong demand and high price of certain new materials and the possibility of sorting out waste in developing regions of the world.

As a result, a market in Secondary Raw Materials (SRM) has developed. A major cause of concern is the implications of waste management on health and the
environment. Further steps are required towards improvement of current technologies, increased collaboration between the public, government and private sectors and increased involvement of all stakeholders. The conference discusses some of these topics and the need to arrive at suitable strategies to waste management.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Waste Management 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Environmental impact
• Reduce, reuse, recycle and recovery (4Rs)
• Waste incineration and gasification
• Energy from waste
• Industrial waste management
• Hazardous waste
• Agricultural waste
• Wastewater
• eWaste
• Landfill optimisation and mining
• Remote sensing
• Thermal treatment
• Emergent pollutants
• Environmental remediation
• Direct and indirect pretreatment of MSW
• Disposal of high-level radioactive waste
• Legislation
• Behavioural issues

Find out more on the conference webpage. 

Complex Systems 201

The New Forest Conference on Complex Systems 2016

1 - 3 June 2016

New Forest, UK

Introduction

The moto of the 2016 conference is "self-organisation versus control".

The Conference aims to bring together practitioners of a variety of disciplines interested in developing and discussing the new approaches for resolving complex issues that cannot be resolved using conventional mathematical or software models. Specialists in modelling complex issues using multi-agent technology and similar distributed approaches, which have achieved credible application results, are welcomed.

The Conference is particularly interested in methods for resolving complex issues that exhibit some of the following attributes: 

CONNECTIVITY - A system consists of a large number of diverse components, referred to as Agents, which are richly interconnected.

AUTONOMY - Agents are not centrally controlled; they have a degree of autonomy but their behaviour is always subject to certain laws, rules or norms.

EMERGENCE - Global behaviour of a complex system emerges from the interaction of agents and is therefore unpredictable but not random; it generally follows discernible patterns.

NONEQUILIBRIUM - Global behaviour of a complex system is far from equilibrium because frequent occurrences of disruptive events do not allow the system to return to the equilibrium between two such events.

NONLINEARITY - Relations between agents are nonlinear, which occasionally causes an insignificant input to be amplified into an extreme event (butterfly effect).

SELF-ORGANISATION - A system is capable of self-organizing in response to disruptive events, a feature termed Adaptability. Self-organisation may also be initiated autonomously by the system in response to a perceived need, a feature termed Creativity.

CO-EVOLUTION - A system irreversibly co-evolves with its environment.

High level of dynamics of such systems, which is usually expressed through the frequent occurrence of unpredictable disruptive events, makes conventional optimizers, batch schedulers and resource planning systems unworkable.

Complex Systems occur in an infinite variety of problems encompassing fields as diverse as economy, the environment, humanities, social and political sciences, physical sciences and engineering. Further examples are given in the enclosed list of topics which although incomplete gives an idea of the themes to be covered by the Meeting.

The Conference objective is to bring together researchers, developers and users of complex systems, aiming to form a community directed at solving complex issues in novel ways.

In 2016 we shall focus on advantages, which could be gained by replacing control with self-organisation.

 Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Complex Systems 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Complexity of the Internet-based Global Market
• Complex Business Processes
• Supply Chain Complexity
• Transportation Complexity
• Logistics Complexity
• Complex Adaptive Software
• Complexity of Big Data
• Management of Complexity
• Complexity in Social Systems
• Complex Political Systems
• Administrations as Complex Systems
• Complexity in Engineering
• Complex Issues in Biological and Medical Sciences
• Complex Ecological Systems
• Complexity Science and Urban Developments
• Complex Energy Systems
• Extreme Events: Natural and Human made Disasters
• Climate Change
• Complexity and Environment
• Complexity and Evolution
• Complexity in Linguistics, Literature and Arts

Find out more on the conference webpage. 

Risk Analysis 2016

10th International Conference on Risk Analysis

25 - 27 May 2016

Crete, Greece

Introduction

Risk Analysis 2016 is the 10th International Conference on Computer Simulation in Risk Analysis and Hazard Mitigation. Risk Analysis 2016 follows on from the other successful meetings in this series, which first started in Valencia, Spain (1998) and continued in Bologna, Italy (2000); Sintra, Portugal (2002); Rhodes, Greece (2004); Malta (2006); Cephalonia, Greece (2008); Algarve, Portugal (2010); the island of Brac in Croatia (2012) and more recently in the New Forest, home of the Wessex Institute (2014).

The conference covers a series of important topics of current research interests and many practical applications. It is concerned with all aspects of risk management and hazard mitigation, associated with both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Current events help to emphasise the importance of the analysis and management of risk to planners and researchers around the world. Natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, fires and others have always affected human societies. The more recent emergence of the importance of man-made hazards is a consequence of the rapid technological advances made in the last few centuries. The interaction of natural and anthropogenic risks adds to the complexity of the problems. 

The papers presented at the Risk Analysis conferences cover a variety of topics related to risk analysis and hazard mitigation. They are published as volumes of WIT Transactions on Information and Communication Technologies, which are widely disseminated around the world in both hard cover and digital formats. Furthermore all the papers are also archived in the WIT eLibrary (www.witpress.com/elibrary), where they are immediately and permanently available to the international scientific community.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Risk Analysis 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Risk analysis and assessment
• Risk prevention, management and control
• Early warning systems
• Risk mapping
• Disaster management
• Vulnerability assessment
• Health risk
• Case studies
• Climate change
• Flood hazards
• Seismic risk
• Other natural hazards
• Construction risk management
• Transport risk analysis
• Safety and security
• Evacuation simulation and design
• Political and economic vulnerability
• Social aspects of risk management
• Community resilience

Find out more on the conference webpage. 

SUSI 2016

14th International Conference on Structures Under Shock and Impact

24 - 26 May 2016

Crete, Greece

Introduction

SUSI 2016 is the 14th International Conference in the successful series of Structures under Shock and Impact. The first conference started in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1989) and continued in Portsmouth, UK (1992); Madrid, Spain (1994); Udine, Italy (1996); Thessaloniki, Greece (1998); Cambridge, UK (2000); Montreal (2002); Crete (2004); the Wessex Institute, UK (2006); the Algarve, Portugal (2008), Tallinn, Estonia (2010), Kos, Greece (2012); and the New Forest, UK (2014).

The increasing need to protect civilian infrastructure and industrial facilities against unintentional loads arising from accidental impact and explosion events as well as terrorist attack is reflected in the sustained interest in this SUSI meeting over nearly three decades. While advances have been made over this period, nevertheless many challenges remain, such as to develop more effective and efficient blast and impact mitigation approaches than currently exist. The primary focus remains the survivability of physical facilities and the protection of people, as well as reducing economic losses and impact on the environment, with emphasis on innovative protective technologies to support the needs of an economically growing, modern society. The application of this technology ranges from transportation of dangerous or combustible materials to defences against natural hazard threats such as flood, wind, storm, tsunami and earthquake. Large scale testing is prohibitive and small scale laboratory testing results in scaling uncertainties.

Continuing research is therefore essential to improve knowledge on how these structures behave under a variety of load actions, some of which interact making it even more complex and difficult to define. Consequently, more use of advanced numerical simulations for load and structural response calculations is common practice in industry and research. Such calculations can directly be used in design and risk assessment calculations, but also be applied as input to more simplified design tools and design codes. Whether numerical or analytical modelling techniques are employed, experimental validation is vital for there to be acceptance of the approach to be used.

The SUSI meeting over the years has fulfilled many objectives, not least to provide a forum for exchange of research ideas and results to promote a better understanding of these critical issues relating to the testing behaviour, modelling and analyses of protective structures against blast and impact loading. It is the objective of these meetings to bring together scientists and engineers from a wide range of academic disciplines and industrial backgrounds who have an interest in the structural impact response of structures and materials. In this way, the major developments in different areas can be brought to the attention of the entire community. All papers presented at the SUSI conference since 1994 are archived in the WIT eLibrary (www.witpress.com/elibrary), where they are accessible to the international community.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at SUSI 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Impact and blast loading
• Energy absorbing issues
• Computational and experimental results
• Aeronautical and aerospace applications
• Response of reinforce concrete under impact
• Response of building to blast
• Seismic behaviour
• Protection of existing structures
• Industrial accidents and explosions
• Hazard mitigation and assessment
• Security issues
• Dynamic analysis of composite structures
• Design against failure
• Damage limitation
• Dynamics of nano materials
• Vehicle impact
• Projectile impact
• Ballistics analysis
• Structural resilience
• Dynamic material behaviour

Find out more on the conference webpage.

Sustainable Tourism 2016

7th International Conference on Sustainable Tourism

18 - 20 May 2016

Valéncia, Spain

                                              Introduction 

Sustainable Tourism 2016 is the seventh meeting organised in this successful series. The first was held in Segovia (2004), followed by Bologna (2006), Malta (2008), the New Forest, home of the Wessex Institute (2010), A Coruña (2012) and Opatija, Croatia in 2014.

Today tourism is an important component of development, not only in economic terms but also for knowledge and human welfare. Tourism has long since ceased to be something just for the privileged few and today is an activity accessible to a growing number of people. The phenomenon has many more advantages than disadvantages. New forms of economic development and increasing wealth of human societies depend on tourism. Our knowledge of the world now includes a strong component due to tourism. Human welfare has physiological and psychological elements, which tourism promotes, both because of the enjoyment of knowing new territories and increasing contacts with near or far away societies and cultures. 

The tourism industry has nevertheless given rise to some serious problems, including social costs and ecological impacts. Many ancient local cultures have practically lost their identity. Their societies have oriented their economy only to this industry. Both the natural and cultural – rural or urban – landscapes have also paid a high price for certain forms of tourism. These problems will persist if economic benefit is the only target, leading to economic gains that eventually become ruinous. It is also a grave error to disregard the fact that visitors nowadays are increasingly demanding in cultural and environmental terms.

Never before have transport and communication links been so important as today. Natural ecosystems are now a rarity on the planet and ecologists talk today about ‘socio-ecosystems’. Given this, tourism and environmental education are facing a major challenge. The ‘Global Change’ is a set of natural environmental changes that are strongly affected by technological and social developments. Natural changes are inherent in the Earth’s ecosystem (the ‘ecosphere’). Also, technological and social changes are inherent to mankind (the ‘noosphere’), and are now becoming widespread. Cities are growing rapidly and industry requires increasingly larger areas. Many traditional rural areas are being abandoned.

Tourism should also play an important role in this context. Thus, interestingly, many historic agricultural districts have maintained, or even recovered,their local population numbers through intelligent strategies of tourism focused on nature and rural culture. Natural landscapes and biodiversity are becoming increasingly appreciated. The tourism industry must be able to respond to these aspirations. Sustainable Tourism 2016 aims to find ways to protect the natural and cultural landscape through the development of new solutions which minimise the adverse effects of tourism. This can be achieved through new strategies involving the active collaboration of society as a whole.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Sustainable Tourism 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Tourism strategies
• Environmental issues
• Community issues
• Climate change
• Safety and security
• Tourism as a tool of development
• Art, architecture and culture
• Heritage tourism
• Wildlife and adventure tourism
• Health and wellbeing tourism
• Medical tourism
• Marine and coastal areas tourism
• Sport tourism
• City tourism
• Tourism impact
• Tourism and protected area
• Ecotourism
• Rural tourism
• Tourism and technology
• Industrial tourism
• Transport and tourism
• Education and tourism
• Theme parks and leisure
• Destination management
• Planning and development
• eTourism
• Simulation models
• Social and physical infrastructure

Find out more on the conference webpage. 

Islamic Heritage Architecture 2016

1st International Conference on Islamic Heritage Architecture and Art

17 - 19 May 2016

Valéncia, Spain

                                               Introduction

The Conference aims to highlight the importance of Islamic Heritage Architecture to the world and its influence across different regions.

The Meeting will deal with the design of many types of buildings in Islamic countries, including not only the better known public buildings such as mosques, mausolea, citadels and forts, but also houses and gardens, engineering works such as bridges and dams, irrigation systems and many others which have also had a profound impact on society. Islamic Architecture has enriched design with a wide variety of structural shapes, including among others, unique arches, a wide variety of vaults and domes which allow for new forms to be developed. The influence that these structural forms have in non-Islamic countries will be one of the themes of the Conference.

There is much to learn from past experiences to arrive at solutions which are environmentally sound and sustainable in the long term. As conventional energy resources become scarce, the Islamic design heritage can offer invaluable lessons on how to deal in an efficient manner with cases of hard and extreme environments. Traditional architecture and urban environment in most Islamic countries is now being eroded by overemphasis on global type of architecture and city planning. As a consequence, many regions are losing their identity. The Conference will aim to review these developments in the light of what the classical Islamic urban designs and architectures have to offer modern society. An equally important part of the Meeting will analyse the materials employed and the types of structural elements, particularly those unique to Islamic architecture. Associated topics of discussion will include music, textiles and ceramics, which are essential parts of the architectural fabric.

The Conference will encompass papers on construction materials, including not only stone and brick but also more perishable materials such as adobe, wood and reeds. Preserving that Heritage also requires the development of appropriate conservation techniques in response to the different materials used and the ways structural forms work, including under extreme conditions, such as earthquakes. Papers relevant to the influence of Islamic architecture on the development of new structural form, shape and design in the Western countries are particularly welcome. The Meeting will be of interest to all researchers, practitioners and government employees actively involved in the topic of Islamic Heritage Architecture.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Islamic Heritage Architecture 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Structural rehabilitation
• Repairs and maintenance
• Data and documentation
• Risk assessment and management
• Oman and Eastern Saudi Arabian architecture
• The upper Gulf (Kuwait and Basra)
• The central Gulf (Bahranian and Qatar)
• The lower Gulf architecture
• The Persian coast and islands
• The Trucial coast (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates)
• Classical Ottoman architecture
• Ottoman Istanbul
• Turkish architecture in the 18th and 19th centuries
• The Balkans legacy
• The Baltic and Caspian Sea legacy
• Islamic architecture along the Silk Road
• Islamic architecture in China
• Other Eastern countries
• Afghanistan
• Islamic architecture in the ex Soviet republics
• Architecture in Malaysia and Indonesia
• The Indian continent
• Islamic architecture in El Andalus and other Spanish regions
• Influence in the Americas
• The Mediterranean region
• The East African coast
• New cities and the search for authenticity

• Architectural heritage
• Archaeological studies
• Historical aspects
• The Islamic urban environment
• Mosques and minarets
• Mausolea
• Schools
• Citadels and fortifications
• Baths and caravansereis
• Markets and public spaces
• Palaces
• Houses and gardens
• Bridges and dams
• Cisterns and qunats
• Earth-sheltered architecture
• Irrigation systems
• Climate adaptability
• Arches and vaults
• Wind towers
• Wind and water mills
• Domes and squinches
• Double shell dome
• Geometry and orientation
• The use of light
• Design and nature
• Vernacular architecture
• Construction materials
• Masonry and mortars
• Wood and wooden roofs
• Metals
• Tiles
• Stone including roofs
• Adobe constructions
• Structural analysis
• Earthquake resistant structures
• Calligraphy, painting and patterns
• Architectural conservation

Find out more on the conference webpage.